Electrically-controlled weighing device.



W. S. SMITH.

ELEGTRICALLY CONTROLLED WEIGHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE27.1910.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

3 sums-sum 1.

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WITNESSES.-

M A TTO NEK v W. S. SMITH.

ELEOTRICALLY CONTROLLED WEIGHING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

1,001,562, Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W/ TNESSES. IN VEN TOR Wd/fer 6. 5/71 [777.

W. S. SMITH.

ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED WBIGHING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

1,001,562, Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

3' 8HEBTSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTERS. SMITH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBUS ELECTRIC SCALE- COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

I ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED WEIGHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,- residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically- Controlled Weighing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to the improvement of electrically controlled weighing devices and the objects of my invention are to provide a machine of this character of improved construction and operation embodying improved means for automatically controlling the discharge on to scales of a predetermined quantity of material; to so construct my improved weighing and controlling mechanism as to insure accuracy in the weighing of predetermined amounts of material and to produce other improvements in the con struction and operation of my machine which will be more fully pointed out, hereinafter. These objects I 'accomplish in the manner illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of my improved weighing apparatus, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the scales tower and head, Fig. 3 is a view of the scales tower at right angles with that shown in Fig. 8, the tower supporting frame being shown in section, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of the scales and" electric controlling mechanism, Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the electric controller, and, Fig. 6 is a central vertical section on line w-w of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a suitable make of balanced weighing scales, which comprises the usual base 1 in which are mounted on opposite sides of the center, vertically movable standards 2 each carrying at its upper end the weighing table or head? This head is connected by the usual scale beam 1, the central cross arm 4* of which is provided at each end with a knife edge bearing 5 which bears in the recess 6.

from-the center of the scale base 1. Rising from one end 'of the transverse frame member 7 is a standard or tower 9, the latter having an enlarged head 10 which is provided with a horizontal upper surface and which is formed ofinsulating material. Carried in the upper portion of this head 10 and flush with the upper surface thereof, are

a plurality of separated metallic contact bodies 11.

Rising from one end of the scale beam and the lower end portionsof which bear upon the upper side of the shaft 14.

Suit-ably supported in position adjacent to the scales are the standards or supporting legs 17 of an upright hopper 18, thelatter having as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, its lower portion tapered throughout its width, said tapered portion having a roundedlower termination. -Within the rounded terminal portion of the hopper is provided a screw .conveyer 19, said screw having end spindles or shafts 20 and 21, the spindle 2O bearing in a tubular'extension 22 of a bearing bracket 22 which is secured in a fiarin discharge spout 23 which extends outward rom an opening 24 in the side of the hopper base. The; spindle 21 extends outward through the hopper casing and is rotatablymounted in a bearing member 25 which is affixed to the side of the hoper. naled parallel with said conveyer an agitator shaft 26 upon which at desirable intervals are carried agitating bars ,or fingers 27. Above the spindle 21 the shaft 26 is extended outwardly through the hopper and carries thereon a belt wheel 28 which through the medium of a belt 29 isconnected with a smaller belt wheelor pulley 30 carried on the spindle 21. On the outer side Above the screw conveyer 19 is jour-.

42 and 43 respectively represent electric current conducting wires which lead from a suitable source of electric generation. The

wire 42 leads to the motor 41 and the wire 43 to one end of a .suitably supported and located resistance coil 44. From the motor a wire 45 leads across a switch or controller board 46 on which board are mounted a pluralit-yof magnets 47 the number of these magnets being equal to the number of contact bodies 11 carried by the head 10. The armature bar 48 of each magnet is provided with an extension 48 formed of insulating material, which extension is connected through the medium of a curved spring 49 with the upper end of a contact post 50 which rises from the board 46. The spring 49 also connects with 'a contact projectlon 51 on the underside of the armature bar extension 48, said spring normally holding said contact projection 51 out of contact with the upper end of a contact post 52 which also rises from the board46. From separated points on the resistance coil, wires 53 leadto the contact posts 50 and wires 54 connect-the wire 45 at intervals with the posts 52, Theimagnets 47 are connected respectively with the contact members 11 and with the contact wheel sprin 16 through a separate battery circuit. f these connections, wires 55 lead from one set of coils of the magnets 47 to the contact bodies 11 and 56 represents the connecting wire between the remaining magnet coils and the a suit-able weight body.

spring 16.

In utilizing my device, it will be understood that the material to be weighed, is contained in the hopper or reservoir 18 and that through the belt wheel connections between the motor, the s'crew conveyer 19 and the agitator shaft 26, rotary motion is designed to be imparted to said conveyer and shaft, with the result that the material which is agitated by the fingers 27 is fed outward by the screw conveyer through the discharge member 23, from which the material drops, into a can, box, or other suitable receptacle such as is indicated at 57 'and which rests upon one of the scale pans or heads 3. It is obvious that the remaining scale pan or head is designed to support Prior to the beginning of theoperation of discharging material from the hopper, the contact wheel 15 is adjacent to but out of contact with the inner contact body 11. When the -weight is deposited upon the weight pan, however, it is obvious that the swinging movement of the scale beam, will result in ang ing the contact wheel 15 upon 'the head 10 to a point where it is adjacent suitable controlling switch, it is obvious that in the manner described, material will be fed from the lower portion of the hopper and deposited in the receptacle 57 which is located u on the higher pan of the scales. When su%cient weight has thus been imparted to the receptacle and the upward movement of the weight earr ing pan beams, it is obvious that the tipping of the scale beam, will result in the contact wheel 15 traveling successively, over the contact bodies 11 until said wheel is again out of contact with theinner contact body or in the position shown in the drawings.

Owing to the connections heretofore described, it will be understood that the traveling movement of the wheel from one contact body to another, will result in gradually closing a circuit through a greater portion ofthe resistance coil, the resistance to the current being thus'graduallydncreased and the speed of the motor decreased until the contact wheel has passed the lowest or inner contact body. .By this operation it will readily be understood that the speed of the screw conveyer, will be reduced to a minimum as the scale pans approach the balance position, thus preventing the discharge of more than a predetermined quantity of material from the hopper after the scale pans are balanced. I W It is apparent that the mechanism herein described, is particularly adapted for the Weighing of material which is intended to be marketed in cans or packages containing exact predetermined quantities.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple and eflicient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but while the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is-

1. In a weighing mechanism, the combination with a material containing hopper and a discharging device in connection therewith, of weighing scales, stationary electric contacts mounted on the scale frame, and a movable member supported from the scale frame and adapted to travel over said contacts, the construction and operation being such that the flow from the hopper gradually diminishes as the load on the scale ,increases.

2. In a weighing mechanism, the combination with a material contaming hopper and a discharging device in said'hopper,pf the scales approaches a predetermined weighing scales, and electric means comprisweight. 10

' ing a series of magnetic contacts controlled In testimony whereof I aflix my signature by the weight of the material discharged in presence of two witnesses.

from the hopper and which control the WALTER Si SMITH speed of delivery of material discharged Witnesses: y from the hopper, said discharge gradually G. C. SHEPHERD,

diminishing "as the amount of material on INGLE A. MORRIS. 

